Nigeria’s Kanyinsola Ajayi has capped a historic breakthrough season with a sixth-place finish in the men’s 100m final at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.The race, which fell on his 21st birthday, featured some of the sport’s biggest names including defending champion Noah Lyles, Jamaica’s Kishane Thompson, and South Africa’s Akani Simbine. Though Ajayi did not make the podium, his performance confirmed his place among the world’s elite sprinters.His qualification alone was historic, making him the first Nigerian man since Olusoji Fasuba in 2007 to reach a World Championships 100m final. Ajayi’s consistency has been remarkable, with all six of his sub-10-second runs coming this season.His progression speaks volumes: 9.96s, 9.95s, 9.93s, 9.92s, another 9.92s, and a personal best of 9.88s just three-hundredths of a second shy of Fasuba’s 9.85s national record. For a sprinter who only emerged on the senior international stage this year, repeatedly dipping under 10 seconds sets him apart as one of the most promising young athletes globally.Ajayi’s semifinal run of 9.93s secured Nigeria’s long-awaited return to a global 100m final. While the final itself did not deliver a medal, it showcased a genuine sprint force capable of challenging the very best in the coming years.For Nigeria, which has long yearned for a male sprinter to reclaim its place among the global elite, Ajayi represents a new dawn. If his 2025 season is anything to go by, the country’s wait for another medal in the men’s 100m may soon be over.
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